"I received my order today and was, as usual, thrilled with the plants. They were large and healthy, beautifully...... show more

"I received my order today and was, as usual, thrilled with the plants. They were large and healthy, beautifully packaged and preserved for secure and safe shipping (I live on Cape Cod Massachusetts). Great Garden Plants, you are a superior company to deal with and your products are excellent as is your service! I couldn't be happier."

~ Philip G. Mashpee MA

Sempervivum 'Mrs. Giuseppi' Description

Mama mia! 'Mrs. Guiseppi' hens and chicks (Sempervivum) is colorful, stylish, and so easy to grow.

This special selection combines medium sized rosettes, each succulent leaf graced with a colorful purple tip. A perfect evergreen plant for hot dry sites. Plant around cracks and crevices or along walkways or grace your containers with season long color, texture and interest.

It may be hard to believe, but these beautiful, interesting plants are happiest with neglect. Just give them full sun, dry soil, and enjoy the show.

PLANTING GUIDE

Soil: Very well-drained, even dry, soil is imperative for success with hens and chicks. Nothing will do them in faster than soggy conditions, so plant only in soils that are never wet for any lengthy period of time. Little volume of soil is needed; sempervivum will grow in rocky crevices, cracks, walls, between paving stones, and in shallow containers. Light: Full sun - at least 6 hours/day - is recommended. Very light shade may be okay in hot climates.Water: Immediately after transplanting, water generously. After that let the soil dry out between watering. Once established, sempervivum is very drought tolerant, requiring little to no supplemental watering.Spacing: 6" - 12" to start - plants will soon fill in and knit together.Fertilizing: None needed.Winterizing: No special care needed. Maintenance & pruning: Once a hen plant produces a chick, that chick will begin creating its own chicks the following year. Large hen plants eventually grow a tall flower stalk and die after blooming. However, this is no cause for concern as by the time it does this, it will have left behind a large colony of chicks to take its place. Cutting off the center stalk will not prevent the plant from dying. Chicks can be left in place or plucked out and relocated to expand your display.